Cyclometer clock



April 7, 1953 J. YOUHOUSE 2,633,696

CYCLOMETER CLOCK Original Filed Nov. 22, 1944 2 SHEETS-SHEET l ATT Y Patented Apr. 7, 1953 2,633,696 CYCLOMETER CLOCK Joseph Youhouse, Fairfield, Conn., assignor to Casco Products Corporation, Bridgeport, Conn., a corporation of Connecticut Original application November 22, 1944, Serial No.

564,608, now Patent No. 2,579,166, dated December 18, 1951. Divided and this application July 25, 1945, Serial No. 607,065

3 Claims. (Cl. 58-125) This invention relates to clocks oi the cyclometer or direct reading type.

This application is a division of application Serial Number 564,608, filed November 22, 1944, how Patent No. 2,579,166, granted December 18, 1951.

An object of the invention is to provide a cyclometer chick with a central sight opening, which may be made extremely thin, that is, of small dimension from front to rear, thereby permitting the time to be read from wide angles.

This is accomplished by the provision, in a clock, of indicia-carrying members all of which are in the form of disks, or annuli, some of which are mounted alongside and edgewise to each other to lie substantially in a single plane, others being nested within one another and within the edgewise-mounted disks, also to lie substantially in a single plane. By this arrangement quick and complete reading of the time, including hours, minutes, and seconds is possible, yet the frontto-rear dimensions of the clock may be made comparatively small while still retaining the balanced ap earance afforded by a central sight opening for the numerals.

Another object of the invention is to provide a clock as above which is extremely simple, with comparatively few component parts, and is foolproof in construction and operation.

This is accomplished by a novel construction providing for simplified yet reliable intermittent drive means between the successive disks or elements carrying indicia. The disks carrying the tens-of-minutes and the hour numerals are mounted apart and lie substantially in a single plane, edgewise to each other with their adjacent edge portions juxtaposed. The hour disk is provided along its periphery with notches for engagement with integral projections on the periphery of the tens-of-minutes disk whereby the latter drives the hour disk intermittently.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated herein, the tens-of-minutes disk has two projections diametrically .opposite each other, and has two identical sets of equispaced numerals from to inclusive, the hour disk having but one set of equispaced numerals, from 1 to 12. Thus each half revolution of the tens-of-minutes disk advances the hour disk of a turn. The amount of turning which the tens-of-minutes disk does is therefore comparatively little, it being advanced 1 g of a revolution at a time, and by the provision of the said two sets of numerals on the tens-of-ininutes disk, the minute disk, which has but one set of numerals from 0 to ,9, may be smaller than the tens-of-minutes disk, and located so that its numerals are inside or enclosed by those of the latter.

By the provision of a simple pickup device, therefore, the revolution periodic advance of the minute disk may be utilized to periodically advance the tens-of-minutes disk revolution, by allowing for a slight amount of lost motion. The arrangement of the hour and minute numerals, and the intermittent movements of the disks are such that at the sight-opening of the clock casing the numerals appear upright and in a straight line at all times except when being momentarily shifted, so that the time may be easily read.

The second disk of the clock is of still smaller diameter than the "minute disk, and is located on the same axis so that the second numerals are enclosed or encircled by those of the minute disk.

A simplified intermittent drive is provided between the second disk and the minute disk, which latter drives the tens-of-minutes disk, this drive comprising a single lug on the second disk, engaging once during each revolution spur gearing connected with the minute disk.

The tens-of-minutes disk is cupped so that the minute disk may be nested therein, and the minute disk also cupped to permit nesting of the second disk, thereby resulting in a compact assembly presenting a substantially flat surface at the front of the clock.

Other features and advantages will hereinafter appear.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of the clock of this invention, with the front of the casing removed to show the mechanism.

Fig. 2 is a horizontal section taken through the axes of the rotary indicia-carrying members.

Fig. 3 is a vertical section taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2, and

Fig. 41s a front elevation or face view of the clock.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, the improved clock of the present invention comprises a substantially rectangular elongate base 20 along the center of which is mounted a vertical support or frame 2! which carries essentially all of the timeindicating mechanism of the clock. An ornamental cover or housing 22 is provided for the clock mechanism, the housingbeing adapted to engage the edges of the base 20 and having at one end hinge means 23 cooperating with hinge means 24 on the base whereby the cover may be being secured to the base 2.!) by screws shown in Fig. 1.

According to the present invention a novel mechanism is provided, mounted on the plate 2} within the casing 22, for indicatingthetime through a central sight opening' 'ifi'of the casing (Fig. i) whereby the thickness; or front-to' -back dimension of the clock may be made compara' tively small. In connection with this, the frame 2| by virtue of its comprising but a single plate, and havin novel bearing means, cooperates with the timing mechanism to accomplish this result.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 2 the time-indicating mechanism of the clock comprises a plurality of disks or disk-like rotary members so shaped and arranged that they occupy little depth, yet indicia carried by the members will line up at the sight opening of the casing, to thereby indicate the time.

According to the present preferred embodiment of the invention an hour disk 2? is provided, rotatably mounted on the frame plate 2! substantially in front of the left half thereof, as viewed in Fig. l. Cooperating with the hour. disk 27 there is provided a tens-of-minutes disk 26 rotatably mounted to substantially cover the right half portion of the frame 2 I, the disks 2'! and 28 being located edgewise with respect to each other and lying substantially in the same plane. For indicating minutes, a minute disk 29 is provided of smaller diameter than the disk 28, mounted in axial alignment with the latter and to lie in substantially the same plane therewith. A still smaller disk 35 having indicia representing seconds is also provided, mounted to rotate about the common axis of the disks 28 and 29, and lying substantially in the common plane of these latter disks.

According to this invention the tens-ofminutes disk 28 has a central cupped portion 28a to provide clearance for the minute disk 29, and the latter has a central cupped portion 29a to enable it to clear the ffsecond. disk 31! so that the faces of these three disks may be flush with each other. The hour disk 2} is provided with numerals 271), the tens-of-minutes di k 28 with numerals 2812, the minute disk 28 with numerals 29b, and the second disk 36 with numerals 301), which cooperate with each other when viewed through the sight opening 26 to indicate the time.

Further, according to the present invention, the numerals 25b of the tens-of-minutes disk 28 are arranged in two separate identical sets, which cooperate with a single set of numerals 2911 provided on the .minute disk 29, whereby the movements of the disks are simply related, and the latter disk in its periodic movements may once in each revolution drive the tens-of-minutes disk through use of an'extremely simple mechanism. This arrangement of numerals also enables a simple intermittent drive mechanism to be provided for driving the .hour disk 21 periodicallyfrom the tens-of-minutes disk 28, as well as for driving the minute? disk 29 from the second disk 30.

Considering the intermittent drive means be- 4 tween the tens-of-minutes disk 28 and the hour disk 27, the latter is provided with a plurality of slots Z'ic equispaced about the periphery thereof, the number of slots corresponding to the number of indicia on the disk, which in the present case twelve. As shown in Fig. i'the slots 210 are preferably located so that they alternate with the indicia 2').

For cooperation with the slots 210 the tens-ofminiits'disk 28 is provided with a pair of projections 23c located on the periphery of the disk diametrically opposite each other. The indicia 28b of the t'ens' ofiininutes disk comprise two sets of numerals from zero to five inclusive, and then-rejections 2c are located respectively betlieadjacnt Zeros and fives of the numeralsl' The projections and slots are so shaped that onoeineachhalf revolution of the tens-ofminutes disk 28 a projection 280 will enter a slot 270 and drive the hour disk 27 through one twelfth of a revolution. This drive means between the disks2l and2 8 is eiit'remely economical to produce, since all of "the slots 21 may be formed in one blanking operation, and since the projections zscmay be formed at the time of blanking or the di sk mans then with but a simple subsequent operation twisted as indicated to lie in a plane at right angl s to' the disk.

' When thelt'en's-offininutes disk 28 is intermittently driven counterclockwise} each time through one-twelfth of revolution," the" indicia from .fzero to live will be'sequentially presented repeatedly through'the sight" opening 25 of the clock. Each time .the".five leaves the sight opening and the fzefoilappears therein, the hour disk 23 will be caused to rotate clockwise'through one-twelfth cr rievemuon, thereby causing the indicia frOinV neV't .ftwelvef thereon to sequentially appear through the sight opening.

Inasmuch as the intermittent rotative movemerits ofthe 'fminute. disk 23 are each through one-tenth of a revolution, which represents a greater are than the oneftwelfth-revolution movements 'of 'the' tensof minutes disk 28, the latter may be intermittentlydriven by the minute'i disk through a simple mechanism wherein a small amount of lost motion is involved.

Accordinglyfrefe'rring' toFigsJl and 3, the disk 29 is provided witha pawl 29d pivotally mounted adjacent its peripheryyand the side wall 28d of the cupped portion 28a of the tens-of-minutes disk is provided with a plurality of apertures 28a for engagement by the pawl 29d. The apertures 25c are ten inhurhbergbne'foi each of the numerals b Control of the pawl 29d is accomplished by means er a pin 2 engid1y carried byfthepawl end, extending rhr'ougnasiorz'a 'inthe periphery of the diSkZS.

A leaf spring 29a is secured to the inner surface of the'disk 29 ,as by'welding or other suitable means, so that i't'ri ay. engage the pin 29eand yieldably holdthe paw Z'Gdin'th'e retracted positiOn showiiih Fig; 3:.

"For ceop ration with the pin 29c at the front facebf thfiiaTgfl, a bracket '31 is provided, mounted on: the frpnt surface" of the frame plate 2| by screws 32 and having 'acamming flange '3 la (Figs. 1 andZ'Yadapted tofen'gag'e the'pin 29c once duringeacn r volution of the' minute disk '29. COhSideliingFig. Ifth'lobttidli 0f the flange 3 l a is such that'when menuinerai' f nine of the "fminute disk, durin counterclockwise movements of the latter, begins to leave the sight opening 26, the pawl 29d will'be swung Q iWardly by the flange and enter one of. the apertures 28a of the tens-ofminutes disk 28. As the counterclockwise movement of the minute disk 29 continues, the pawl fziid will cause the tens-of-minutes disk 28 to be carried with it. When the numeral nine has completely left the sight opening 26 and the succeeding character zero" fully entered the opening, the numeral five of the disk 28 will have left the sight opening and the succeeding character zero fully entered the opening. As this occurs, the pin 298 will leave and be disengaged from the flange 3m, whereupon the spring 29g will return the pawl to its normally retracted position. Thus, once during each revolution of the minute disk 29 the tens-of-minutes disk 28 will be advanced one-twelfth of a revolution.

A slight amount of lost motion is involved in the drive between the disks 29 and 28, this lost motion being mainly the result of the movement of the disk required to advance the pawl 29c into engagement with the disk 23. Since the interm; tent movement of the disk 29 is through one-tenth of a revolution, whereas the movement of the disk 28 is through one-twelfth of a revolution, the lost motion is accounted for by the difference in magnitude of these two movements.

Simplified means are provided by the invention for yieldably holding the disks 28 and 29 in their various intermittently placed positions.

Considering the tens-of-minutes disk 28, an arm 33 (Fig. l) is lanced from the vertical frame plate ii to extend forwardly thereof, this arm carrying a fiat spring 34 the end 3411. of which is made V-shaped to extend into the apertures 28c of the disk 23. The disk is thereby correctly positioned each time it is advanced one-twelfth of a revolution, it being yieldably held in its various rotative positions against accidental dislodgement and yet being movable when sufficient pressure is exerted by the pawl 2M, overcoming the restraint of the spring 39.

With regard to the detent for the disk 29, the cupped portion 29a thereof is apertured at ten equispaced points 29h as shown in Fig. 3, and a resilient detent spring 35 is provided, mounted on a frame 36 (Figs. 2 and 3) secured to the end of a stationary sleeve 3'! fixedly carried by the frame 2 i. To securely hold the sleeve 3'? in proper aligning position perpendicular to the plate 2| the latter is provided with a bracket 38 attached to its rear face, and encompassing the sleeve. The bracket 38, sleeve 3'1, and plate 21 may be secured together in any suitable manner as by welding.

A simplified drive is provided, according to the invention, between the minute disk 29 and the second disk 39. This latter disk is driven to turn continuously, and as shown in Fig. 2, is mounted on the end of a spindle 39 journaled in the sleeve 37, the other end of the spindle 39 carrying a gear wheel 4d engaged by a pinion H on the shaft of a synchronous drive motor 42 which may be of any suitable type having the proper speed and power, the motor being mounted on the frame plate 2! and energized through wires es and M as shown.

Referring to Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the rear face of the second disk 39 is provided with a bracket it having a laterally-extending lug 45a for periodic engagement with an idler pinion 46 mounted on the stationary frame 36 and meshing with a gear wheel il secured to the central cupped portion 25a of the disk 29. As seen in Fig. 2, the disk 29 and gear wheel 41 are centrally a-pertured so that they may be rotatably carried by the sta- 6 tionary sleeve 31. To provide a longer bearing surface for the disk '29, a cupped bearing plate 48 rotatably carried on the sleeve 3'! is secured to the rear surface of the disk 29, thereby serving to steady the latter.

By this arrangement each revolution of the second disk 30 causes the lug 45a at the rear thereof to engage and drive through part of a revolution, the pinion 46 and therefore the gear 41 and disk 29 attached thereto. The amount of this movement is just suflicient to advance the minute disk 29 through one-tenth of a revolution, thereby substituting in the sight opening 25 the succeeding numeral carried by the disk.

The tens-of-minutes disk 28 is likewise centrally apertured and rotatably carried by the sleeve 31, its bearing surface being augmented by a cupped bearing plate 49 secured to the rear surface of the disk.

Referring to Fig. l, the numerals 33b of the second disk 30 progress in steps of five. That is, twelve numerals are provided, starting with 0 and ending with 55, equispaced along the periphery of the disk and progressing counterclockwise, the direction of turning of the disk being clockwise.

A detent is also provided for the hour disk 21, the latter having a cupped central portion 21d (Fig. 2) with apertures 21a for engagement by a leaf spring 59 (Fig. 1) mounted on an arm 5| lanoed from the frame 2 I The invention therefore provides by the above construction a simple time-indicating mechanism which may be mounted in a casing having comparatively small front-to-rear dimensions, the mechanism presenting through a central sight opening in the front of the casing, numerical indicia for indicating the time.

In operation, the second disk 33 is driven to turn clockwise continuously by the synchro nous motor 42. The indicia 36b of the second disk become visible sequentially through the sight opening 26 of the casing. When the 55 numeral of the disk 30 leaves the sight opening 28 and the succeeding 0 numeral enters the sight opening, the drive mechanism between the disks 3 3 and 29 becomes operative so that the latter disk is rotated one-tenth of a revolution counterclockwise, thereby advancing the next minute digit for viewing through the sight opening. Also, each time the minute digit 9 leaves the sight opening 26 and the succeeding numeral 0 occopies the opening, the tens-of-minutes disk 23 will be advanced counterclockwise one-twelfth of a revolution, thereby presenting the next numeral of this latter disk in the sight opening. Each time a numeral 5 of the disk 28 leaves the sight opening 25 and the succeeding numeral 0 enters, the hour disk 21 will be advanced one-twelfth of a revolution, bringing into view the next succeeding hour numeral.

Thus, the time may be read from the disks 21, 28 and 29 accurately to within one minute, and by reading the seconds numerals on the disk 39, accurately to within five seconds.

To provide for convenient setting of the disks of the clock to the correct time when this is nec essary, the peripheries of the disks 28 and 29 are provided with a, plurality of equispaced notches and 96 respectively into which a pointed implement may be inserted, for turning the disks without marring the faces thereof.

The hour disk 21 may be rotatably mounted in any suitable manner on the plate 2|, as for instance by providing the plate with a rigidly secured stud ,97, and b providin the disk 21 with a hub 98, the latter and disk being loose on the stud.

Variations and modifications may be made within the scope of this invention and portions or" the improvements may be used without others.

I claim:

1. In a clock of the cyclometer type, a pair of disks rotatably mounted substantially edgewise to each other and having on corresponding faces each a plurality of time indicia located adjacent to, and equispaced along their respective peripheries, one of said disks having a plurality of equispaced notches in its periphery, one for each indicia and the other disk having an integral substantially radially projecting fiat finger on its periphery, said finger having a twist at its base so that its surface is substantially perpendicular to the surface of the disk, and being adapted to cooperate with the said notches whereby once during each revolution of the disk and finger, the latter engages broadside the edge of a notch and drives the notched disk through only part of a revolution.

2. In a clock of the cyclometer type, a casing; a frame mounted in the casing, comprising a substantially fiat vertical plate having a pair of spaced apertures therein; a bearing means carried by the plate, at said apertures; spindles carried by the hearing means, extending through the apertures in the plate; a disk carried by one of the spindles and a second disk and an annu lus surrounding the same carried by the other spindle, said disks and annulus being parallel to the plate and located in substantially edgewise relation; means, including a motor carried by the plate on its other side and connected to the spindle driving the second disk for intermittently driving, according to a predetermined timing, the first disk; means extending from the second disk to the annulus for driving the annulus a part of a revolution for each revolution of the disk; periodically operable drive means extending between the periphery of the annulus and the first disk mounted on the other spindle and engageable during solely a part of each I'BVOlll-r tion of the annulus to drive the first disk, the. latter being driven through only a part of a revolution; and indicia on the outer faces of the disks and annulus for indicating time.

3. In a clock of the cyclometer type, an hour disk and a flat tens-of-ninutes annulus, each rotatably mounted and positioned substantially edgewise to each other and having on their peripheries intermittently engaging drive means engageable during solely a part of each revolution of the tens-of-minutes annulus to drive the hour disk through only part oi a revolution; a fiat minutes annulus rotatably mounted substantially edgewise to and coaxially within the tens-ofininutes annulus; intermittently operable drive means interconnecting the minutes annulus and tens-of ininutes annulus and engageable during solely a part of each revolution of ti o latter to drive'the tens-of-minutes annulus through only part of a revolution; a seconds disk rotatably mounted substantially edgewise to and coaxially within the minutes annulus; means for continuously rotating said seconds disk; intermittently operable drive means between the minutes annulus and seconds disk actuated incident to rotation of said seconds disk to drive said minutes annulus during solely a part of each revolution of the seconds disk through only part of a revolution; and time indicia on the corresponding faces of the disk and annuli, said drive comprising a lug on the disk, and spur gearing connected with the annulus, said lug engaging the gearing once during each revolution of the disk to drive the annulus thereby by increments.

JOSEPH YOUHOU SE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

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